The Goldfinger is out now in the UK cinemas and elsewhere around the world. It’s been a real honour and privilege to be involved in the UK release. This isn’t hype, it’s the kind of event cinema fans genuinely wait for.

Understandably, it's being talked about in the same breath as Infernal Affairs, not only one of the best Hong Kong films but one of the best cop thrillers of all time, in my mind. That film’s complex and deeply satisfying story of an undercover cop in the triads, and an undercover mole in the police, was a game changer and no surprise to be a critical hit all over the world. While the first is no doubt the best, I love the trilogy too, especially the underrated prequel which added depth and backstory to the characters, making this cinematic world even richer. And let us not forget the original IA spawned Martin Scorsese’s Oscar winning film, The Departed. So, high expectations for this new one. All that aside, The Goldfinger is very different and deserves to be judged on its own merits.

It stars Tony Leung (Hard Boiled, Bullet in the Head) and Andy Lau (House of Flying Daggers, Running out of Time), teamed once again with Infernal Affairs co-writer Felix Chong (The Silent War, Overheard), now taking directing duties for this ambitious tale of greed and excess. Inspired by true events and set during the 1970’s and 1980’s, it follows the rise and fall of a multi-billion-dollar company and its chairman Cheng Yi-yan (Leung), who undergoes a relentless investigation led by an elite anti-corruption investigator (Lau). The result is a bold 15-year investigation in pursuit of the truth.

We haven't seen a grand scale Hong Kong film like this for a long time and they boldly went there. Tony Leung and Andy Lau are undisputed icons, and really fun to see them flip hero/villain roles. It’s one of Leung's wildest and most flamboyant roles for sure. I recommend fans go and see it purely for its OG status, as these two reuniting is something special.

Plus, the supporting cast is strong (including Simon Yam, Charlene Choi and Alex Fong). Plus, there's an epic visual style, lavish production design and some great needle drops. I do personally wish it leaned harder into the darkness and grit, often implied and simmering just below the surface. Yet still it's a lot of fun and harkens back to the old days where we probably took for granted how often these types of films were being released. The 1980’s and 90’s were rich seasons for quality Hong Kong crime dramas and thrillers, and we were spoiled for choice. Now, operating in a different marketplace and with many other factors making these films rare commodities, they should be appreciated.

Infernal Affairs icons reunite for The Goldfinger